Robert A Robertson Shooting
Submitted
16 February 2008 by Buck Seibert
Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Thursday, 30 June 1853, page 3
R Robinson, the man who a few months ago since murdered Moses Guard (sic) about ten miles from Newport, on Licking river, was found guilty of murder in the first degree on Wednesday evening in the Circuit Court now in session at Alexandria. The testimony was so positive that the jury were only fifteen minutes in their room before they gave their decision. Robinson was sentenced yesterday to be executed in August next.
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Covington Journal, 10 September 1853, page 1
EXECUTION OF ROBERTSON FOR MURDER OF
MOSES GARD
On Saturday last, at Alexandria Campbell county, Robert A Robertson suffered the extreme penalty of the law for the murder of Moses Gard. The murder was committed in June 1852. At the December term 1852, of the Campbell Circuit Court, the case was heard, but the jury did not agree upon a verdict. At the June term last Hon H C Harris, Special Judge, the cause was heard again, and the jury after a brief retirement, returned a verdict of murder in the first degree. The prisoner was then sentenced to be hung on the 1st Saturday of September 1853.
On Friday night, the unfortunate man attempted to take his own life, by opening some of the arteries of his arms with a razor, but was prevented from accomplishing his purpose by the timely discovery of his designs by the guards. He, however, lost considerable blood and was so weak that he fainted on the scaffold. Saturday at 12 1/2 o'clock, every thing being ready, the trap fell and Robertson was launched into eternity. The body after hanging about 30 minutes, was delivered to friends and buried on the day following.
A speech made by the unfortunate man from the scaffold has been extensively published and created doubts in the minds of some persons as to the justice of his sentence. The following is the speech.
"My dying friends, this is my last appearance. I am very feeble but am much better than I expected to be in consequence of the excessive loss of blood. I have been in custody now nearly fifteen months. During this time nearly every attention has been shown me by the Jailer, Mr. Spillman, the Sheriff and all the others of the Court for which I am very grateful. My dying friends, I presume I have some friends here and some enemies also-my sentence was unjust. I am not guilty of willful murder; but although it is an unjust debt, I pay it willingly. I was convicted by perjured witnesses (he here asked Sheriff Stricker if he had better mention names but he did not) and the people were prejudiced against me. Unfortunately I can neither read nor write. If I could I might perhaps address you better. I have made a confession to my friend Spillman, who has written it down. He read it to me last evening; it is as I wanted it, in every particular. I have mentioned names in it and from it you can learn all. I freely forgive all my enemies and hope they can forgive me. I also wish to mention that some of my friends wrote to the Governor for a respite, but through the interference of Mr. Baker, they were unsuccessful. For that interference I thank Mr. Baker and forgive him. I am perhaps better prepared to die now than I should be two months hence. I am certainly not guilty of willful murder and I hope this may be a warning to all juries in future upon similar occasions.
I had taken the gun from the hands of another; it was cocked; I brought the breach to my shoulder with the muzzle pointing towards the ground and was in the act of letting the hammer down, retreating towards the fence, intending to strike with the gun in self defense. At that moment Gard struck the gun with his hoe, elevating the muzzle and it was discharged, the contents entering the thigh. If I had intended to kill, I would not have aimed there. My friends I trust you may all discharge your respective duties in this life and may God bless you all."
It is proper to add to this statement the facts as they were presented to the jury. The Newport Messenger gives them as follows: "It was __- (unreadable) that on the 2d day of June, the prisoner came armed with a rifle to the field where Gard and others were working hoeing potatoes. that he commenced an altercation with a young man by the name of Crawford, about a dog and threatened to kill him giving him fifteen minutes; that afterwards he asked the deceased what he had said about his wife and commenced to quarrel with him and prepared to attack him, when Gard raised his hoe and the prisoner fired his gun, shooting him in the thigh causing his death in five minutes; that he threatened when he left home to attack Crawford and if Gard said anything to blow him through, for he had laid it up for him sometime; that he told the wife and daughter of deceased and others that he had done it, and would do it again; that he had intended it for four months, and courage had made him do it."
Gard was 60 years old, Robertson 35. Let it be said to the credit of the people of Campbell County that comparative few were at the execution.